13.02.2026
Bulgaria’s first Industrial Decarbonization Academy focused on regulatory challenges and technological solutions for the transition to a low-carbon economy in industry. It was organized by Net-Zero Lab, the teaching and research laboratory at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, with the support of Aurubis Bulgaria.
The initiative brought together international guest lecturers, business representatives, and academics who presented key topics related to the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries, European industrial policies, and practical pathways for implementing technological solutions to turn Europe’s climate goals into actionable outcomes. Lectures took place at the FEBA on 6 and 7 February 2026, preceded by a public discussion.
The opening discussion outlined the main challenges facing the industrial transition in Europe and Bulgaria. During the discussion, Ivan Mateychak, Director for the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) at the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), emphasized that Europe’s challenge is no longer whether to reduce carbon emissions, but how to do so without losing industrial competitiveness.
The conversation included Konstantin Bozhinov (Heidelberg Materials), Desislava Kirova (Holcim Bulgaria), and Ivaylo Georgiev (Aurubis Bulgaria), who highlighted practical aspects of the transition. They focused on the impact of new regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), on production costs, investment decisions, and long-term planning. The general consensus was that decarbonization is a complex process requiring a balance between environmental objectives and economic reality, particularly in energy-intensive industries such as cement and metallurgy, which require substantial investment.
An industrial visit to the Holcim Bulgaria plant on the first day complemented the practical dimension, giving participants first-hand exposure to processes, technological solutions, and implemented measures to reduce the carbon footprint.
In the following days, the program continued with lectures on the new regulatory framework for clean technologies, reforms in the Emissions Trading System (ETS), CBAM implementation, as well as strategic approaches and risks facing Bulgarian industry.
Lecturers included representatives from the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), the German think tank Agora (Industry Program), the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, as well as leading Bulgarian analysts and experts from academia and industry. Discussions focused on European industrial competitiveness in the context of decarbonization, the role of clean energy, electrification and hydrogen, and the need for closer coordination between research, business, and public policy.
During the academy, Dr. Mariya Trifonova, Deputy Head of Net-Zero Lab, presented the lab’s latest analytical report mapping Bulgaria’s chemical industry and the key factors determining its decarbonization potential. The analysis shows that the sector is concentrated in a small number of large companies but has a significant impact on emissions and energy consumption, making it crucial for the national transition to a low-carbon economy.
By hosting this first-of-its-kind Industrial Decarbonization Academy, Net-Zero Lab, with the support of Aurubis Bulgaria, continues to develop a long-term platform for knowledge exchange, expert capacity building, and sustainable dialogue between business, academia, and institutions. The goal is to transform Europe’s climate ambitions into realistic investment and technological solutions adapted to Bulgaria’s industrial and economic context.